Escorted tours are an ideal way to see the Greek isles, writes Katie McGonagle
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There’s nothing wrong with treading a well worn path from hotel to beach and back again – especially when that beach is on one of Greece’s sun-kissed shores – but it does risk missing out on some of these Mediterranean isles’ greatest treasures.
For those who want to venture further than the beach, an escorted tour can unlock the secrets behind Greece’s mix of myth and ancient history, explore its rugged scenery or give families more than just a sun-and-sand stay.
There are as many tours as there are islands to visit, but we’ve picked out a handful to help get your clients started on their Greek odyssey.
History
Greece is known as the cradle of western civilisation for good reason, but its overwhelming array of ancient sites – and the legends associated with them – are better explored with a guide who can explain their significance.
The plethora of history-themed tours have varying itineraries, but most start with the biggie – the Acropolis – followed by the rest of the capital’s ancient sites. Insight Vacations’ Glories of Greece next crosses the Corinth Canal for the ruins of Mycenae, mentioned in Homer’s Iliad as the seat of King Agamemnon, then continues across the Peloponnese to the amphitheatre at Epidaurus and sport’s spiritual home at Olympia.
Arguably saving the best for last, though, the tour journeys along the Sacred Way of Delphi to the impressive Temple of Apollo, legendary home of the Oracle of Delphi, then finishes with the towering monasteries of Meteora, which literally means ‘middle of the sky’.
Book it: Insight Vacations’ seven-day Glories of Greece tour starts at £1,350 and includes flights, six nights’ bed-and-breakfast accommodation, door-to-door airport transfers and guided sightseeing.
insightvacations.com
0800 5335620
Or try: Cosmos Tours & Cruises’ Wonders of Ancient Greece visits these key sites, adding a drive through the Peloponnese region to Sparta. The 10-day tour starts at £897 for an April 25 departure from Heathrow, including flights and accommodation.
cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk
0808 115 1684
Island life
Skipping between Greece’s idyllic isles sounds like a dream holiday, but it’s all too easy to be put off by the logistics of booking ferries or flights between islands. That’s particularly true of the shoulder seasons, when inter-island connections run less frequently, or for solo travellers who might be daunted by having to find their way around.
Luckily, an escorted tour reduces the hassle factor and allows guests to explore the individual character of each isle. Most island-hopping itineraries incorporate more leisure time than a standard tour, so check how much guided sightseeing your clients want. For nervous single travellers, suggest a solo-specific tour such as Just You’s nine-day Mykonos and Santorini trip.
Book it: Titan Travel’s Greek Island Medley is a 15-day tour through the Dodecanese isles of Rhodes, Leros and Symi, starting at £1,499 for a May 13 departure with flights, 14 nights’ accommodation with breakfast and most dinners, excursions and VIP home departure.
titanagents.co.uk
0800 988 5166
Or try: Saga’s 14-night A Taste of the Greek Islands tour stays on Santorini, Paros and Naxos with guided excursions, and includes visits to Mykonos and Delos and several days at leisure. Prices start at £1,078 for a May 12 departure from Birmingham, or £1,179 departing May 26 from London.
saga.co.uk
0800 074 8021
Active
It’s not exactly a haven for hardcore adrenaline sports, but Greece’s rugged natural landscapes lend themselves to soft adventure. Walking and cycling breaks are most prevalent, with operators such as Explore, Inntravel and Ramblers Worldwide offering itineraries for different levels of fitness, with easy to moderate terrain in almost all cases.
This type of tour is best suited to guests who want to explore a specific region in-depth rather than packing in the sights. For those who want even more independence, Explore has added a self-guided trek along the south coast of Crete, in addition to its group tour of the island, meaning guests can set their own pace along an eight-day itinerary.
Book it: KE Adventure Travel’s The White Mountains of Crete offers a moderate-graded trek along the famous Samaria Gorge and up Pachnes, the highest peak in the White Mountains. The eight-day land-only tour starts at £795, including meals and hotel accommodation.
keadventure.com
01768 773966
Or try: Exodus has a Cycling in Greece break lasting eight days and requiring moderate fitness, with 80% of time cycling on tarmac and 20% on dirt roads. Prices start at £1,099 including flights to Athens, accommodation with breakfast and transfers. Bike hire is £80.
exodus.co.uk
0845 867 9670
Sailing
With waters as clear and calm as these, it’s easy to see why sailing itineraries are popular. These can be anything from full-scale cruises to small group sailing tours, depending on what your clients are looking for, but both offer a different perspective of the islands. G Adventures’ five marine trips between Athens, Mykonos and Santorini can be adapted en route to suit groups, with the 15-metre yacht able to stop in smaller harbours and let guests off to explore at leisure.
Book it: Riviera Travel offers The Star Clipper – An Aegean Odyssey, starting with an Athens city tour, a cruise on the tall ship visiting Santorini, Patmos and Chios, then along the Turkish coast and ending in Istanbul. Prices start at £2,499 for the 10-day tour, departing August 28.
rivieratravel.co.uk
01283 742300
Or try: Intrepid Travel offers a Greece Sailing Adventure – Cyclades Islands, for a maximum of eight, starting at £1,070 plus €80 kitty, excluding flights.
intrepidtravel.co.uk
0808 274 5111
Family
All-inclusive hotels and holiday clubs are not the only way for little ones to experience Greece: a family-friendly tour can provide all the comforts kids need with the added bonus of extra sightseeing. Suggest reading up on Greek myths with youngsters before the trip – the stories of gods and goddesses will bring the ancient sites to life – and pick a trip which includes child-friendly activities and free days for families.
Book it: Trafalgar’s 10-day Greek Island Hopper Family includes two nights in Athens, then visits Mykonos and Santorini. Prices start at £1,475 land-only for nine nights’ B&B, transfers, sightseeing and tour director.
trafalgar.com/agents
0800 533 5616
Or try: Explore has a Caique Cruise for ages eight and up, starting in Athens then boarding the traditional wooden vessel at Evia to cruise past bays and fishing villages. Prices start at £890 including flights, six nights’ accommodation on board and a night’s pre-cruise in Athens.
explore.co.uk
01252 884721
News from Greece & Cyprus
Aegean Air has added a seasonal service flying up to six times a week between Gatwick and Heraklion, starting June 21, in addition to its Birmingham-Athens service commencing March 29. aegeanair.com
Trade-only car rental service Flexible Autos is offering a free child seat for Europcar bookings in Cyprus during January, or 15% off any Greece booking made from January 12-31 for travel between April and October. Agents who make three or more Cyprus bookings in January will also be entered into a draw to win a free seven-night holiday with flights, four-star accommodation and car hire. flexibleautos.com
Former Sunsail resort Vounaki Beachclub in Paleros, mainland Greece, reopens under the Neilson brand on May 17. All Neilson Beachclubs (except Cosmos Beachclub in Vassiliki) are also offering £200 discounts in January and £50 pocket money for kids. neilson.co.uk
Ikos Resorts is opening two properties in Halkidiki, the former Oceania Club, which becomes Ikos Oceania from March, and Ikos Olivia, opening in May. The all-inclusive resorts will feature Michelin starred chefs plus ‘dine-out experiences’ encouraging guests to support the local economy. ikosresorts.com
Sunvil Holidays has released its biggest Greece brochure to date, featuring more than 300 properties across 40 islands and the mainland. These include eight new Cycladic islands plus a twin-centre option with Albania. sunvil.co.uk
Celestyal Cruises has added two itineraries, the seven-day Idyllic Ionian Sea and Adriatic cruise departing October 16, and the Pilgrimage Voyage departing Athens on October 30 for Christian sites in Greece and Turkey. Both lead in at £533 including full-board accommodation and entertainment. celestyalcruises.com
